At 11:58 p.m. Tuesday night, New Year's Eve, Yaleni Tohalino gave birth to her daughter, Lorraine Begazo, at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. Three minutes later, she delivered Lorraine's twin brother, Brandon.
Those three minutes made it 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day, meaning that while Lorraine was born in 2013, Brandon became one of the first newborns of 2014.
"[I'm] full of joy and energy," Yaleni's husband, Warren Begazo, said. "Unbelievable happiness for this incredible event."
Lorraine is the livelier and bigger of the pair thus far - she weighs in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces - while Brandon, mellow and freckled, was delivered at 5 pounds, 10 ounces.
In Spanish, Tohalino said that she's very tired but very happy.
Originally from Peru, the growing Begazo family lives in Wheaton, and the unique births mean that Warren's 18-year-old son, Dylan, is finally a big brother.
"I didn't expect it to come; I kind of gave up on that," Dylan said. "Now I see all these new possibilities."
The family says they plan to celebrate the twins' different birthdays with cake on both sides of midnight on New Year's Eve every year.
"One cake will blow out before midnight and the other cake after midnight," Warren Begazo said. "I don't have to do two different parties."
Their father said he knew twins were coming - but it was the timing that made it emotional.
"Receiving a present for New Year's - a human being that you are receiving in the first seconds of a New Year - it's speechless, emotionally well and full of joy, hope and realization," Warren Begazo said. "I was kind of sad all these 18 years because, you know, when I leave this planet my son would be alone and that really... my heart. He won't be able to have nephews, nieces, and it was really hard for me and that was really one reason why I do this."
"When I was growing up I always asked him for siblings, but they never came. And he didn't want me to be alone because he said family is what matters, love and family," Dylan Begazo said.
Warren Begazo says it's been a long time since he's changed diapers, but he's ready for it. Dylan promised to help.